Hallsville’s Coby Weaver Pitches No-Hitter In Important League Win Against Sulphur Springs

Hallsville starting pitcher Coby Weaver recorded his third no-hitter of the season in a 3-0 win against Sulphur Springs on Tuesday at Bobcat Field. It was his fifth career no-no. (Mark Martin, ETSN.fm)

HALLSVILLE -- Sulphur Springs entered Tuesday's top 25 matchup hoping for a series sweep against Hallsville. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the amazing has become routine at 1 Bobcat Lane.

Coby Weaver threw his third no-hitter of the season in a 3-0 victory, and the Bobcats took a giant step toward their third straight league championship.

"We started out the season and the first thing we wanted to do was make the playoffs," Weaver said. "After we made the playoffs, we wanted to get the district championship. We come out here every game now and try to win the district championship.

"We feel like God is behind us, there are only wins in front of us and I'm glad we've got this win tonight. I feel like we've got this district championship in the bag."

Jacob Walker crosses the plate to give the Bobcats a 3-0 lead in the bottom third on Eric Denby's sacrifice fly to center field. (Mark Martin, ETSN.fm)

It was a devastating loss for No. 25 Sulphur Springs' District 15-5A title dream. The club delivered No. 6 Hallsville its only loss of district play thus far last month and could have taken a share of first place with a win.

The only good news for Sulphur Springs was third-place Marshall lost to fourth-place Greenville and it retained its spot in the standings.

Weaver, a Dallas Baptist signee, knocked the Wildcats (12-7, 8-3) two games back and pushed Hallsville (17-4, 10-1) within two wins of locking up the district's first playoff seed.

The lefty singlehandedly took out 14 Sulphur Springs on strikes. None of his pitches reached the outfield.

He struck out 17 batters in total. Three Wildcats reached base on third strikes in the dirt and a fourth got on the bags via a walk in the first inning.

That was it.

"We knew what the importance of this game was for us and for Sulphur Springs," Hallsville head coach Scott Mitchell said. "For him to come in and just dominate like that was incredible. I've seen him do it before. This year. He's thrown two perfect games, but tonight may have been his best one. Especially against the caliber of team we were playing."

Perhaps the best quality of the accomplishment was with who Weaver shared the mound.

Wildcats pitcher Tyler Follis allowed four hits and eight total base runners in a complete game effort. It was enough to give his team a realistic chance even as batter after batter turned back toward the dugout.

In the top of the seventh, however, Hallsville shortstop Ryan Cole made two impressive plays to preserve the no-no.

He scooped a slow grounder hit by Landon Brock and delivered a throw that just beat Brock at first base. He also caught a line drive from Larry Pryor.

Ethan Phillips worked the count full with two outs but went down swinging on Weaver's 93rd pitch.

Hallsville got on the board in the first inning.

Leadoff hitter Jacob Walker was hit on the first pitch of his at-bat and came home with two outs and the bases loaded on a wild pitch.

The Bobcats added two runs in the bottom third.

Austin Blakely hit an RBI double and Eric Denby batted him in with a fly ball to center field.

Brock was the only Sulphur Springs base runner to get into scoring position. He was stranded at third base in the fourth inning after reaching on a ball in the dirt, a throwing error and a wild pitch.

Hallsville catcher Colton Oberthier played a hand in five put outs. He saved four strikeouts in the dirt and the fifth came on a weakly hit chopper just in front of the plate.

"Weaver and I have been together for 10-plus years," Oberthier said. "It's one of those deals where we're connected. We're together. When he's on, I'm on. I think it's vice-versa, too. It was fun game to be a part of. It really was."

The Bobcats, who clinched a playoff berth last week, will travel Friday to Greenville. If they win that game, they can win the district next week at Pine Tree with a game to spare.

Sulphur Springs will try to maintain its hold on second place in the district Friday against Pine Tree.

"We seem to always lose to Sulphur every year at their place," Weaver said. "We had to return the favor. We were ready to go. If anything was on ground in the field, we weren't going to let them on base. We were fighting and ready for them this time."

Coby Weaver struck out eight of the first nine batters he faced in Tuesday's win against Sulphur Springs. (Mark Martin, ETSN.fm)